Classics Discussion: Jay-Z

[Inspect Her Deck]

Ok so some of y'all will be familiar with a project I'm deciding to run. I made a thread yesterday trying to reach a conclusion as to what defines a classic album. After much discussion, I am running with this definition personally, so take it as you will when you consider your classic albums. But this definition in particular was most agreed upon.

Classic: 1. An album considered by consensus of the core hip hop community to be of the highest quality (doesn't have to be perfect or flawless, just an album that the consensus deems the shyt).
2. Assuming that condition 1 is met, is this an album that has stood the test of time amongst the core hip hop community? Is that an album still held in high regard, still referenced at least ten years after its release? By a consensus of the hip hop community?

Props to @mobbinfms for the definition and also for his help generally in helping me with ideas to create these threads.

So I'll be going through one artist per day, and I will list out all their discography or close to all of it until the year 2005, as we decided that an album needs at least 10 years of existence before it can be called a classic or not.

Today, we're starting with HOV.

I will be making a POLL. For each album I will present a YES or NO option so if you think that particular album is a classic, you click 'yes' on the poll for THAT album and vice-versa. The acceptance rate for an album to be deemed a CERTIFIED classic is 80%.

If you don't think an album is a classic, DO NOT LEAVE THE POLL BLANK. You vote NO for that album instead so at least we register your vote.

I will NOT count any comments in the thread as votes, you must use the poll. The comments section should be used for discussion only.

Tagging some mods:

@FreshAIG @That Singer Guy... @hustlemania @houston911 @SoulController

 

[s3ven_LvLs]

Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint, Black Album because I can play them all the way through without skipping they also aged well

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

Remember you can vote up to 7 times so I want everyone to run through each of the 7 albums and either say YES or NO.

If y'all got questions, don't hesitate to ask

 

[The Ruler 09]

I voted yes on RD and BP.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint, Black Album because I can play them all the way through without skipping they also aged well

I agree I picked those 3 as well. I think their influence and relevance speak for themselves too.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

Whoever has voted already, don't just vote for the albums you say yes for, go through ALL the albums and say yes or no.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

@Heisenberg Black @The Ruler 09

you guys gotta vote for all albums so if you didn't say yes, you gotta choose no for the remaining options

 

[RAW_SPK]

There's the whole trifecta (RD, BP, BA) but I also voted for Vol. 2 because it made Jigga a superstar and its my first cd I physically bought growing up. not to mention the shyt had like 4-5 charting singles (Hard Knock Life, nikka What, Can I Get A, Money Ain't A Thang, It's Alright, Money Cash Hoes)

 

[RichForever]

Voted yes for Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint and The Black Album.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

There's the whole trifecta (RD, BP, BA) but I also voted for Vol. 2 because it made Jigga a superstar and its my first cd I physically bought growing up. not to mention the shyt had like 4-5 charting singles (Hard Knock Life, nikka What, Can I Get A, Money Ain't A Thang, It's Alright, Money Cash Hoes)

fair enough bro as long as you're happy with your definition of a classic and applied it to your selections you're all good.

 

[Dirty D]

I voted yes on RD and BP.

Same. Vol2 (more due to impact than quality), Dynasty and the Black Album are borderline to me but don't quite make it.

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

The only classic he has is RD.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

Thanks to everyone for their participation so far.

Just a note: PLEASE don't try to troll and ruin the results. Be genuine with your picks. I don't need anti-Jay fans or Jay stans ruining the poll.

 

[The Ruler 09]

Same. Vol2 (more due to impact than quality), Dynasty and the Black Album are borderline to me but don't quite make it.

Black Album is close to me, some really dope shyt, just a few tracks prevent it for me personally. But it still a very notable and dope album to me. BA, RD and BP are Jay's best to me.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

I think it's pretty much known that RD, TBP and TBA all have substantial influence to be classic-worthy, it's just a matter of whether they have enough quality as well.